Meiji Era 4th class Rising Sun order with a Curved Clutch Fork

Rare specimen from a personal collection. Awarded to an unknown French cavalier sometime before 1886.

Note unusual (most likely French-made) ribbon rosette. Original Japanese-made ribbon was originally issued without rosette since rosette would be introduced by the Imperial Decoration Bureau decree only on October 25, 1886. Naturally previous cavaliers affixed to their order privately-comissioned ribbon rosettes of various designs.

White enamel has Ivory color and feeling.

Under a different light.

 

Suspension.

 

The most interesting feature of this Rising Sun order is the forward-moved curved clutch fork.

Only once have I seen a similar element of Japanese orders - this is on one of the 3rd class Golden Kite orders from me collection that has a curved upper ray.

 

Original case for awarding of a foreigners https://asiamedals.info/threads/orders-of-the-rising-sun-in-cases-for-a-foreigners.23184/